7/10
The Beguiled is exactly the slow burning intense drama we’d expect from Sofia Coppola. The plot is very straight forward, an injured solider shows up at an all girl’s school, which causes these sheltered girls to do anything for his attention. It is hard to tell if Corporal McBurney (Colin Farrell) is playing them or playing them against each other to stay out of the war, but it’s these moments that keep us guessing while the story moves at a snail pace. When the drama finally boils over and the Corporal selects his girl, the fireworks erupt and the unthinkable happens. From that moment on everyone is on edge, as the wounded hero tries to escape and the women bond together to get rid of him. The entire film is slow, but after one rough night, everything changes and the film gets so interesting you can’t turn away. Whether it is great writing, great directing, the cast, or the subject matter, The Beguiled is one of those really good films that if you decide to watch it, you won’t be disappointed.
Ten Stars or Less 